Beginner’s Guide to iOS App Development: Unlocking Opportunities
iOS app development can be a lucrative venture. It allows you to reach the one billion people who use iPhones globally.
Existing businesses and new entrepreneurs alike recognize the opportunities associated with iOS mobile app development. But getting started is often the biggest hurdle, and that’s why we created this guide.
Continue below to find out everything you need to get started with iOS app development. We’ll even show you a shortcut to success.
Key Takeaways
- Global Reach: iOS app development opens access to over one billion iPhone users worldwide.
- Entrepreneurial Opportunities: Both new and established businesses can benefit from iOS apps.
- Initial Challenges: Starting iOS app development can be daunting without the right guidance.
- Apple’s Guidelines: Adhering to Apple’s developer guidelines is crucial for app store success.
- Tools and Resources: Essential tools include Xcode, Swift, and an active Apple Developer account.
What is iOS App Development?
iOS app development is the process of making software to run on Apple iPhone, iPad, and iTouch hardware. Like any software project, the iOS app development process has unique requirements to ensure the application is compatible and meets the specifications for Apple devices.
iOS applications can be deployed on the Apple App Store for users to download.
Apple has specific developer guidelines for iOS apps. These guidelines contain the rules and best practices for iOS app development, including what it takes to get your app published to the Apple App Store.
Prerequisites to Develop iOS Apps
There are certain requirements you need to have in place before you start developing iOS apps.
Most of these are technical requirements that provide you with the tools and resources for development. We’ll take a closer look at each one below and link out to some other helpful resources that you can use to learn more about the topics.
Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
The first thing you need for any mobile app development project is an integrated development environment—better known as an IDE.
An IDE is essentially software that enables developers to build applications. IDEs combine a range of developer tools into one GUI (graphical user interface).
| Feature | Xcode | Other IDEs |
|---|---|---|
| Compatibility | Mac only | Varies (some support Windows) |
| Official Support | Apple’s official IDE | Third-party support |
| Programming Languages | Swift, Objective-C, C, C++ | Varies |
| Additional Features | Includes SDKs, testing tools | Varies |
Xcode is Apple’s official IDE, and it requires a Mac computer to operate.
There are some workarounds out there to use Xcode on a Windows-based PC. But generally speaking, it’s not in your best interest to go this route. If you’re serious about being an iOS developer, you should have the right hardware.
With Xcode, you can do more than just create apps for iPhones and iPads. You can also use this tool to create, test, and distribute apps for all Apple devices across every Apple platform.
This includes applications for Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. You’ll have a compiler, text editor, and name system all in one place.
The software offers a wide range of debugging tools, project management resources, and asset management features. Overall, it’s a great way to keep all of your coding files organized when you’re developing and deploying apps on the Apple App Store and Mac App Store.
We have a full tutorial on Xcode that you can use as a reference to get started. The tutorial covers all of Xcode’s requirements, how Xcode works, Xcode features, and how to use it for your iOS development project.
iOS Programming Language
You also need to decide what programming language you’re going to use to create an iOS app.
The Swift programming language has become the new go-to option for iOS development. It’s commonly used and encouraged if you’re using Xcode. Objective-C is another popular option to consider.
With that said, you can also use a general-purpose programming language or object-oriented programming language to develop an iOS app. It all depends on your current programming skills and the type of app you want to create.
In addition to Swift and Objective-C, Xcode is also compatible with Objective-C++, C, C++, Java, Python, Ruby, Ruby on Rails, and Python. Check out our guide on the best programming languages for iOS apps to learn more about your options.
Swift has become so popular due to its flexibility and simplicity. The concise syntax makes it easy to learn, even for beginner iOS app developers.
The language is clean, easy to read, and easy to maintain. This is great for making changes and updates down the road. Having clean code also makes it easier to spot mistakes while you’re building an app.
Designed for safety, Swift also eliminates certain classes of historically unsafe code. These built-in safety features make it an easy choice for many developers.
iOS Software Development Kit
An iOS SDK (software development kit) is different from an IDE. By definition, an IDE only provides an interface for development. But an SDK offers all of the tools required for programming.
SDKs provide the software programs you need to create applications using specific programming languages.
One cool part about using Xcode is that it comes with different SDKs. These come in the form of libraries that you can use to develop iOS apps.
We have a complete list of iOS development tools that you can use as a reference as you’re trying to find the best iOS SDK for your application.
Active Apple Developer Account
You need an active Apple developer account to get your app in the hands of real users via the App Store. Without a developer account, you cannot submit and distribute your application.
To get started, simply join the Apple Developer Program. Aside from being a requirement, the membership comes with lots of different perks that you can use to your advantage.
One cool part of the program is access to the latest betas. This allows you to leverage Apple’s latest technologies and integrate them into your applications for iOS apps, iPadOS apps, macOS apps, watchOS apps, and tvOS applications.
The program also gives you access to TestFlight, which is a great way to test your apps before a release. You can invite up to 10,000 external users to try your new builds before deployment. All you need to do is send it to their email address or share a public link.
You can enroll in the developer program as an individual or as an organization. Both options require an Apple ID with two-factor authentication enabled.
Organizations must be registered as a legal entity and have a
It’s also worth noting that there are different types of developers. Most fall into either one of two categories—freelancers and development agencies. We have an in-depth guide that compares the pros and cons of hiring an app development company vs. freelance developers.
| Aspect | Freelancers | Development Agencies |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Generally lower | Generally higher |
| Flexibility | High | Moderate |
| Resources | Limited | Extensive |
| Project Management | Self-managed | Agency-managed |
You can also download our free ebook on building an expert mobile app development team. This goes beyond app developers and includes tips for hiring designers, contractors, project managers, QAs, and other key players in a successful iOS app project team.
Best of all, you won’t have to worry about maintaining your infrastructure or ensuring compatibility with iOS updates. BuildFire takes care of everything, and we’ll even get your app published to the App Store.
Final Thoughts
Having a blueprint to follow when you’re getting started with iOS development is crucial.
You can use this guide as a resource to ensure you have everything in place before you start building. Once you have everything organized, building the app will be much easier.
iOS app development shouldn’t be intimidating. Even if you don’t have any coding knowledge or technical experience, you can still create an app using an app maker like BuildFire.